I was thinking about this. I always thought they were taking it easy with bringing him back as he is a commodity and they don't want to risk him getting hurt if he isn't 110% healed up.
Now somebody on the player thread said a couple days ago that maybe they were shielding him from view to prevent scrutiny and the dropping of his value on the market. The more I think about this, the more I think this could be the case. Partially because he isn't at the level some people think he is (yet tbf) and also because he wouldn't be getting proper support around him and that might make him look poor to the eye.
It’s tough to judge from how little we’ve seen but from the few interviews he’s done, he strikes me as sort of a shy, perhaps slightly immature kid. Again, it’s from a pretty small sample but he seems like he has great physical tools but not a great deal of the mental side in terms of drive, aggression and desire to succeed.
Just on the technique he’s shown and the seeming absence of arrogance or attitude, I suspect he will have a good career. But the hype is a bit much. I know when he practised with Liverpool last year, their midfielder Harvey Elliott told papers there they should sign him. So it might be closer than we think or it might be that they want to wait a few years and see if he develops more aggression and a quicker read of the game.
There’s a Uruguayan striker, Agustin Alvarez, who just wen to Sassuolo in Italy but three years ago was “certain” to go to Atletico Madrid or Inter Milan, on the strength of scoring buckets of goals in the premier division as an 18 year old. But they were obviously concerned about something because it just never happened. He’s still made it, but not at the heights expected.
Might end out being something like that. He still has a lot of time to impress.
Hoping LI and FB make their debuts. Some bits of footage of Bernardeschi here:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/can-...season/sn-amp/
(And note the possession regains numbers for LI and FB….)
Last edited by los sonadores; 07-22-2022 at 08:07 PM.
Pinnacle tfc+119
does not make sense
Wtf is going on. These are 5 pylon odds
Last edited by stevep; 07-22-2022 at 10:50 PM.
Finally, the season opener. Waited too long for this.
Been a long time since felt could do this
****************
IT'S GAME DAY
It was an incredibly long pre-season this year. It is finally opening day at BMO!
Gimme:
GK (I'm not picky and I think Bono has gotten HOSED by defense this year)
Criscito - Henry - O'Neill - JMR
MAK - Bradley - Osorio
Berna - JJ - Insigne
I'm almost certain I got my sides wrong so please correct me
Bono
Thompson—McNaughton—O’Neill—Criscito
MAK—Bradley—Osorio
Berna—JJ—Insigne
Maybe Henry for McNaughton.
Really can't see Insigne starting. Bernie likely.
Red jerseys tonight!
Food for thought. It was about 5 games before Giovinco adjusted to MLS and he had the benefit of a preseason.
Let’s not expect instant success here.
A certain amount of beer is indicating to me that this game is going to be epic one way or another.
I hope the beer is accurate. 😊
It’s nice to have some excitement back. Really looking forward to this game. I’m keeping my expectations low but my hope is sky high.